CAMILLUS – More than 21 months had passed since a high school ice hockey game was played in front of fans at Shove Park in Camillus.
When the fans returned, they witnessed two local powerhouses, Skaneateles and West Genesee, open the 2021-22 season against each other, with the Lakers breaking it open in the third period to beat the Wildcats 3-0.
As if the local angle wasn’t exciting enough, Skaneateles entered the night maintaining a 58-game unbeaten streak which had included the last state Division II championship handed out in 2019.
Returning much of its lineup from a side that went 8-2-2 last winter (including a tie with Skaneateles), WG also had the benefit of playing on home ice, so often a factor when facing strong teams in years past.
The first period went without a goal, as did the second. Defensively, the Wildcats were efficient and effective, keeping the Lakers quiet as goaltender Dylan DeSena was working his way to 23 saves.
Try as it could, though, WG could not move out in front, Chad Lowe ulitmately stopping all 24 Wildcat shots he faced and waiting for some help on the other end.
It arrived with 9:46 left in the third period, Carter Corbett taking a pass from Henry Major and able to flick a shot past DeSena. Even bigger was the penalty on a breakaway that left Garrett Krieger with a penalty shot that he converted to make it 2-0.
Jack Torrey tacked on an empty-net goal late in the period, again assisted by Major.
Back home on Friday to face Fayetteville-Manlius, Skaneateles scored five times in the first period and cruised from there to an 8-1 victory over the Hornets.
Running the unbeaten streak to 60, the Lakers saw Krieger amass three goals and two assists.
Luke Renaud, fresh off playing in goal for Skaneateles’ state Class B champion boys soccer team, earned a goal and four assists, with Major getting a goal and three assists. Torrey, Curren McGown and Andrew Gaglione also scored, with Andrew Falkenberg and Mike Blowers adding assists.
Meanwhile, the Skaneateles girls hockey team made its return last Wednesday when it took on Williamsville South, from the Buffalo area, and rolled to a 7-0 victory.
Rebecca Cain and Lizzy Sachar scored in a 90-second stretch midway through the first period to put the Lakers in front. Sachar then added a goal early in the second period to make it 3-0.
Then Scout Oudemool hit on back-to-back goals and, in the third period, struck again to earn the hat trick. Julia Quinn tacked on a goal in the closing stages.
Building upon this, Skaneateles returned and put together a 13-0 romp over Beekmantown, matching its Williamsville South total with a seven-goal first period.
Rebecca Cain scored four times, with Quinn getting three goals and one assist. Rachelle Cain had two goals and three assists as Oudemool recorded four assists. Alexis Fassinger earned three assists as Sachar and Adrianna Barbuto both had one goal and one assist. Katie Combs added a single goal.
a 7-3 win over Plattsburgh followed on Saturday, with the Lakers surrendering its first goals of the season, but still able to pull away late.
Sachar netted three more goals, with Oudemool getting two goals and two assists. Rebecca and Rachelle Cain matched each other with a goal and two assists.
